December 30, 2009 pro-government rally in Iran

December 30, 2009 pro-government rally in Iran
The 2009 pro-government rally in Iran, held by people as a response to Ashura protests
Native name 9 Dey rally
Date December 30, 2009
Location Various cities in Iran
Cause Desecration of day of Ashura (According to Iranian government)[1]

On December 30, 2009, pro-government demonstrations, also called 9 Dey rally,[2] took place in Shiraz, Arak, Qom, Isfahan and Tehran, among other cities in Iran[3] to protest recent anti-government demonstrations connected with the much disputed 2009 presidential election.[4][2]

Background

To protest the results of the 2009 Iranian presidential election, demonstrators took to the streets on December 27, 2009.[2] The protests of December 27, 2009 fell on Ashura, a Shi'a holy day. According to Ibrahim Moussawi, associate professor of Lebanese University and head of Hizbullah's media relations, the incident damaged "public relations" of the Green Movement with Iranian citizenry more than all events as the acts of the protesters on that day including "applauding, whistling, and engaging in other cheerful displays," was "widely" seen as violation of a "red line" and targeting Husayn ibn Ali and Ashura commemoration itself.[1] Lolagar mosque in Tehran was set into fire by the "rioters", according to the State TV of Iran leading to death of "few" people in mosque.[5] Various society groups including "marej-'e taqlid, the society of Iranian doctors, university student groups, the Iranian Parliament, Oil Industry Workers, the Iranian Women's Culture and Education Society, the Society of Iranian Teachers, the Iranian Professors Society, provincial governors, municipalities and bazaars" expressed their condemnation and many of them publicly asked for the "prosecution of the opposition leaders".[1]

In response to December 27 protest, pro-government protesters hold a rally in a "show of force" three days later on December 30 (9 Dey) to condemn Green Movement protester.[2]

Rally

According to The New York Times "a witness said many demonstrators on Wednesday were taken to protest sites by dozens of buses and were given free chocolate milk, and the Associated Press said the government had given all civil servants the day off to attend the rallies."[6] Participants numbered in the tens[6] or hundreds of thousands.[4] Slogans included "O free-willed leader, we are ready, we are ready"[4] and “Death to Moussavi,”[6] Speakers included Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, and speakers called on opposition leaders to repent from their opposition to the government or be declared "enemies of God" and face the death penalty.

Population

Observers differed on the size or representativeness of the demonstrations. One source called the main rally in the capital "possibly the largest crowd in the streets of Tehran since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s funeral in 1989." [7] But this was challenged by another source which stated that satellite pictures of the demonstration showed it having "far, far fewer people there than at recent opposition rallies, which numbered in the millions," and that instead of congregating in Azadi Square in Tehran, where the regime had "traditionally organized mass rallies to intimidate the opposition and the world", the rally was held in "a much smaller square" in the middle of city.[8]

Commemoration

The pro-government protest is commemorated annually in various cities of Iran.[2][9]

See also

References and notes

  1. 1 2 3 Moussawi, Ibrahim. Shi&‘ism and the Democratisation Process in Iran: With a focus on Wilayat al-Faqih. Saqi. ISBN 9780863568312. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Karami, Arash (December 30, 2014). "Iran marks anniversary of anti-Green Movement protests". Al-Monitor. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ Iranian hardliners rally, call for killing reformists Dec 31, 2009
  4. 1 2 3 "Iran regime supporters swarm streets". AFP. December 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010.
  5. ↑ Editorial. "People killed in mosque fire during unrest-Iran TV". Reuters UK. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Fathi, Nazila (December 30, 2009). "In Tehran, Thousands Rally to Back Government". NYT. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. ↑ Another Iranian Revolution? Not Likely By FLYNT LEVERETT and HILLARY MANN LEVERETT, January 5, 2010
  8. ↑ The State of the Opposition is Strong, Abbas Milani, January 8, 2010
  9. ↑ "Iran Commemorates 2009 Pledge of Allegiance Rally". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
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